Help Glenwood Springs Shine with Glenwood Gold
|
|
We are filled with joy and gratitude as we have seen our community come together during this difficult time. The Glenwood Springs community has demonstrated strength and loyalty! However, to fully recover and bounce back we still must give our very best to help Glenwood Springs shine.
We challenge the Glenwood Springs community to invest $100,000 into Glenwood Gold Community Currency by Small Business Saturday on November 28th, 2020! Every Glenwood Gold purchase will count towards the goal. If we succeed, we will host some kind of celebration thanking the community for supporting local!
|
|
June sees decline in unemployment as state recovers 37% of jobs lost since February
|
Source: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
June 2020 Unemployment Rates (not seasonally adjusted)
- United States: 11.1%
- Colorado: 10.5%
- Summit: 16.6%
- Pitkin 16.0%
- Eagle: 15.7%
- Lake: 13.8%
- Grand 13.2%
- Routt: 13.1%
- Garfield: 9.7%
- Moffat: 8.9%
- Rio Blanco: 7.8%
- Jackson: 5.3%
Economic highlights:
- The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment estimates that 20% of workers laid off indicated that they are now permanently laid off, up from 10% in May.
- The state's unemployment rate increased by three-tenths of a percentage point in June.
- Since May, Colorado has gained back only 126,000 of the 342,300 non-farm payroll jobs lost between February and April.
- Economists are concerned about how the end of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance will affect the economy, particularly with a reduced number of available jobs.
|
Number of unemployed exceeds number of jobs, but hiring remains challenging
|
Source: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
|
The end of many people's 16-week "job-attached" status is creating consternation among employers who aren't open, but don't want to lose employees and among employees who, even though they aren't working, feel they still have a job.
Those who file for job-attached unemployment get one benefit: Their weekly work-search requirements are waived for 16 weeks. Those 16 weeks have come to an end for many workers across the state and they have been notified about the resumption of work-search activities. There is an assumption that the business will rehire the employee and that the employee will return, but a job-attached status doesn't obligate the employer to rehire or the employee to return.
Those searching for new employment are at a disadvantage. Jobs are not coming back online at a rate that matches the number of unemployed in Northwest Colorado communities. This trend is reflected across the country. Career-based education counts as a work-search activity and is particularly beneficial to those not seeking new employment. There are several opportunities highlighted below.
|
|
Statewide Face Mask Requirement
|
|
Last week, Governor Jared Polis announced a statewide mask requirement for public indoor spaces unless someone has a medical condition or disability that prevents them from wearing a mask.
The order became active on July 17, 2020 will be in effect for 30 days. It may be extended.
|
|
Mask Up and Do MORE in Garfield County
|
In an effort to remind visitors and residents how we can all help reverse the current trendline and start to lower the number of COVID cases in Garfield County, Public Health launches the
Do MORE in Garfield County campaign.
|
|
|
The Healthy Families Workplaces Act of Colorado
|
|
Source: Employers Council
Governor Polis signed the
Healthy Families and Workplaces Act
(HFWA or the Act) into law on Tuesday, July 14. The Act took effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature; however, certain provisions of the Act will not take effect until 2021 and 2022 depending on the size of the employer. For the remainder of this year, the Act will require all employers to comply with the emergency paid sick leave requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
|
|
Opportunities and Resources for Your Business
|
|
Sign up to Accept Glenwood Gold Community Currency Today!
No Cost to
Participate
|
View participating businesses
here.
How can Glenwood Springs Businesses Participate?
Here are a series of videos that show you how it works:
It is easy for your business to sign up to accept Glenwood Gold.
- There are no upfront costs or special software/credit card machines to purchase.
- The program will reimburse participating businesses 100% face value of the currency!
- The Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association will send payment to participating businesses by ACH within two weeks of certificates’ redemption.
Sign up below using code: GLENWOOD
NOTE: Bulk purchase options are available if your business is interested in using Glenwood Gold for a promotion, employee rewards, etc. Contact
angie@glenwoodchamber.com
if you are interested.
|
|
Energize Colorado Gap Fund
|
|
The
Energize Colorado Gap Fund
will provide more than $25 million in small business loans and grants to boost small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Sole proprietors, businesses and nonprofits with less than 25 full-time employees can apply for up to a $15,000 grant and a $20,000 loan for a possible combined total of $35,000 in financial assistance.
Eligibility
You must be either a:
- small business or enterprise - Colorado sole proprietors and registered small businesses including LLCs, S-Corps and other business types.
- nonprofit - Colorado nonprofits whose mission and/or programs directly support economic development, small businesses, or tourism.
You must also:
- have fewer than 25 employees - Applicants must have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. An employer may use its off-season employee count.
- be impacted by COVID-19 – Applicants must be able to show the economic hardship their business is facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The business’s story of hardship plus documents such as bank records, point of sale receipts, profit and loss statements, or other documents can be used to show economic harm.
Any eligible Colorado small enterprise is welcome to apply. Priority will be given to the following applicants:
- majority-owned by black, indigenous, people of color, veterans, or women
- in rural areas with population of less than 50,000 people
- in the tourism sector
- with limited or no access to capital financing or other federal, state or local grants/loans
How to Apply
We recommend you gather these documents to show how you have been impacted by COVID-19:
- bank records
- profit and loss statements
- tax filings
- expense receipts
Energize Colorado will provide a mentoring program to assist in filing this application including translation.
|
|
Paycheck Protection Program Applications Open Until August 8
The application deadline for the SBA's forgivable small business loans known as the
Paycheck Protection Program
(PPP) has been
extended until August 8, 2020
. Applications are open foreligible small businesses, nonprofits and independent workers negatively impacted by pandemic-related economic disruption.
To apply, follow these steps:
2. Review the application (provided by your lender) and gather the necessary materials such as payroll tax filings, proof of lease payments, proof of mortgage payments, and proof of utility payments.
Get in contact with your accountant and/or bank that pays out your business’s payroll. Ask your lender if it is authorized to process your Paycheck Protection Program loan. If you are not connected to an authorized lender,
find an eligible lender here
. We have also compiled a list of
Colorado SBA approved lenders
. If you are struggling to find a lender, please contact the hotline at
(303) 860-5881
.
|
|
SBDC Offers Free Business Consulting Services
|
The SBDC provides free, confidential, virtual business consulting to help you navigate the federal COVID-19 programs, start a new business, or expand/improve your existing business model. Sign up below to be connected with a business consultant. To help expedite our administrative process, please provide some written details in your request regarding your business model and the type of consulting you need. The SBDC will be here now and into the future to help your business grow and adapt.
|
|
|
Shop Small by American Express
|
American Express is offering card members $5 back in the form of a statement credit after they spend $10 or more at an eligible small business, up to 10x – in-store or online. Let your customers know they can visit ShopSmall.com to learn more about how to enroll and make the most of this offer. Make sure your business is eligible for the offer. Appearing on the Shop Small® map confirms you’re eligible for the offer and makes it even easier for your customers to support you, in-store and online. Check the map to see if your business is on it – and easily add it, if not.
Download this toolkit
to spread the word. With website banners, social assets, in-store posters, and offer badges, your
Small Business Owner Toolkit
has everything you need to get the word out to your customers.
|
|
The Colorado Workforce Development Council Launches Talent Development Playbook
|
The CWDC is excited to announce the launch of the new Talent Development Playbook to help businesses hire, train, and keep talented employees. The resource provides an overview of evidence-based talent development strategies and helps businesses identify and implement the strategies that best meet their needs. Playbook content released in June focuses on how an intentional talent development strategy can benefit your business, career pathways, and apprenticeships.
|
|
PPE to Help Colorado's Businesses Operate Safely
|
Purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies for your business, nonprofit, or healthcare institution through the
Energize Colorado marketplace
. This marketplace is intended to be a resource to help you safely open your business and serve Coloradans.
Products include:
· cloth face coverings
· surgical masks
· KN95 masks
· vinyl gloves
· nitrile gloves
· individual and bulk hand sanitizer
· disinfectant
|
|
Garfield County Printable Safety Flyers Available to Help Local Businesses with Public Messaging
|
Safety Flyers are available to anyone who would like a Garfield County branded flyer to post in their workplace or building. The flyers are available in English and Spanish and include the topics of social distancing, wearing a face covering, and not entering if sick.
The flyers are available
here.
|
|
|
Alternative Source of Funding
|
|
The
Alternative Sources of Funding
Google sheet helps Colorado’s small businesses find alternative funding sources beyond EIDL, PPP, and other federal loans and programs. There are over 180 opportunities currently in this document.
OEDIT updates this sheet regularly and are aware that resources can change on a day-to-day basis. If you come across any resources that are no longer active, please email us at
oedit_sbnavigator@state.co.us
.
Please note that this Google sheet is ‘live’, so you may see changes as we make real-time updates.
|
|
Bipartisan Small Business Comeback Act Introduced
|
H.R. 7671 - Small Business Comeback Act
The Small Business Recovery Fund will provide federal grants for operational expenses to help businesses reopen and stay open as they navigate a new normal.
The Small Business Recovery Fund offers businesses greater flexibility in how the funding can be used, filling the gaps left from previous programs. While the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was a good first step, it isn’t enough to tackle the economic headwinds that remain.
Please use the one-click letter form at the button below to send a message to Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. Cory Gardner and Rep. Scott Tipton to sign onto the
Small Business Comeback Act.
|
|
|
Upcoming Webinars & Meetings
|
|
Strategies to Address Housing & Homelessness Lessons from other Communities
TONIGHT (July 22) - 5:30-7 p.m.
|
The community is invited to a work session on strategies to address homelessness in our region. Jenn Lopez, a Colorado-based housing and homelessness program consultant, will guide us through some strategies she has successfully implemented in her hometown of Durango, Colorado as well as innovative programs working across the state. The goal of this session is to learn about best practices and explore potential solutions for our own backyard.
|
|
|
|
Navigating HR During COVID-19 and the Latest Public Health Updates for Businesses
Friday, July 24 - 11-11:45 a.m. via Zoom
|
Presentation and Q&A
- A step-by-step process for what a business should do if an employee shows symptoms, where to obtain testing and when they can return to work.
- Overview of Senate Bill 205; Sick Leave for Employers & the Family First Act
- Statewide mask ordinance FAQs
- Current public health orders and overview for Garfield County Businesses
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reenvisioning Retail
July 23-24
|
Retail, hospitality, tourism and food and beverage is Colorado's second-largest industry in number of jobs. Join this interactive event where experts discuss strategies for economic recovery and sustainability for this important industry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Future of Retail with Jon Schallert
July 28
|
Jon Schallert is an internationally-recognized speaker and business expert specializing in teaching businesses and communities how to turn themselves into Consumer Destinations. Join DCI’s STAYING IN THE GAME speaker series and listen to Jon’s ideas about successful traits and practices for retailers in the new normal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Opportunity Zone Capital Accelerator Program Zoom & Learn Opportunity
July 29 & 30
|
Club 20 and OEDIT are partnering to host a twp Zoom meetings for those interested in learning more about the OZ Capital Accelerator Program. These meetings are open to Club 20 members and non-members, but advanced registration is required.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Glenwood Networking Group
|
When:
Thursday, July 23
Bring yourself and your business cards. We'll each share about our business, get feedback from the group and learn about others in the community. The emphasis is on building relationships and passing referrals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roaring Fork Leadership Free Resilience Education
|
The Resiliency Experience is a collective effort of leadership practitioners who believe leadership development is the future for Colorado. Learn from the best of the best across the state to support you and your organizations during these uncertain times.
|
|
|
|
Rally the Valley Virtual Fundraiser to Support Cancer Patients in Our Community on September 12
|
Walk, raft, hike, bike or show your support of patients of the Calaway • Young Cancer Center, while following social distancing safety recommendations. And, save date for a live virtual show on Saturday September 12.
|
|
|
Lift-Up Hiring & Volunteers Needed
|
LIFT-UP, a 38 year-old non-profit, known for managing food distribution to those in need throughout the Roaring Fork valley, and for its dedication to providing humanitarian essentials, is in need of staff and more volunteers to assist with emergency food bag preparation and distribution.
|
|
|
Glenwood Springs Ford Giving $200 in Glenwood Gold for Every Car Purchased Through July 31
|
|
Glenwood Springs Ford has partnered with us to support the GLENWOOD GOLD CURRENCY PROGRAM.
For every new or used vehicle priced over $5,000 sold in July 2020, they are giving the purchaser $200 in Glenwood Gold Currency. They can then use that currency to purchase goods and services at Glenwood Springs merchants.
Their goal is to help pump some energy back into our local economy. They have plenty of inventory ready for you to choose from at Glenwood Springs Ford. Shop in person at the dealership in west Glenwood Springs or online at
glenwoodford.com
today!
|
|
Chairman's Circle Investors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
